Ironing-table



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Signet 1.

G. L. HOFWOLT.

IRONING TABLE.

No. 570,636. Patented Nov. 3, 18 96.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Mode 1.)

0. L. HOPWOLT.'

IRONING TABLE.

No. 570,636. Patented Nov. s, 1896.

o/oimd' 5M0! M4Lww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. HOFXVOLT, OF SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA.

IRONING-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,636, dated November 3, 1896.

Application filed April 15, 1 896;

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. HOFWOLT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Rosa, county of Sonoma, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Ironing-Tables; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of ironing-tables; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

The object of my invention is to provide an ironing-table which is adapted for handling with ease and precision-large articles, keeping them compact, out of the way, and smooth during the operation of ironing.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a view of one end. Fig. 4 is a view showing the removable brace a Fig. 5 is an elevation and cross-section of roller D to show the seat and fastening for the clamping-strip. Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective, showing a part of the roller D, the ratchet-wh cold the clamping-strip, and showing also the catchlug d for holding the strip. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed view of one of the ratchetwheels, showing a portion of one of the levers with its pawl in engagement with the ratchetwheel (2 and showing by dotted lines the position of the pawl when disengaged from the ratchet wheel. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the thumb-nut and the manner it secures the pawl. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail showing a portion. of the bottom brace 66* and one of its end connections.

A is a frame having a suitable ironingboard B at its top. C are brackets at the ends of the frame. In the forward ends of these brackets is journaled a roller D,'so arranged that it may be easily taken out and replaced, for which purpose the axle at one end of the roller fits into a hole for the bearing, while at the other end said axle fits into an inclined slot 0 for a bearing, adapting said end to be readily taken out, whereupon the other end will also slip out.

In the other ends of the brackets C is journaled a roller E, which is similarly mounted to the roller D,whereby it also may be easily removed and replaced, and said roller E has Serial No. 587,575. (No model.)

provision made for regulating the ease with which it revolves, so as to cause it to turn harder or easier, as may be needed, by means of'a set-screw F bearing down upon one of movable clamping-strip 6, held by a similar catch-1n g 6 These catch-lugs are illustrated in detail in Fig. 6, and they consist of an arm 12, pivoted on the shaftof the roller and overlapping the end of said roller. By swinging the arm in one direction its overlapping portion will pass over the clamping-strip d and hold the latter in its groove. ing the arm in the reverse direction the overlapping portion will move off the strip and allow it to be removed. "These rollers are operated by means of a rocking shaft G, mounted in the frame below and having a treadle H, whereby it can be operated by the foot. This shaft has end cranks g, from one of which extends a link I to a pivoted lever J, the other end of which is connected by a link K with a swinging lever L, fulcrumed to an arm or bracket 10, the extremity of which link carries an actuating-pawl Z, adapted to engage with a ratchet-wheel e on the roller E. This pawl Z is connected with its lever L by a hinge-joint, adapting it to be thrown into and out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel e and when thrown out of engagement away from the ratchet wheel said pawl is held By swingaway by means of a thumb-nut Z on its pivot,

so that in such case the roller E may turn freely unafieeted by the pawl.

From the crank at the other end of the rock-shaft extends a link M, the other end of which is connected with a swinging lever N, fulcrumed to an arm or bracket 12, and which carries a pawl n, adapted to engage with a ratchet-wheel d on the roller D, and said pawl, like the pawl Z, may be thrown into and out of engagement with its ratchet-wheel, and when out of engagement is so held by a thumb-nut n on its pivot.

The pawls Z and n in practice arenormally held in engagement with the ratchet-wheels by reason of their position permitting them to fall into engagement with the ratchetwheels by gravity, and this is effectedvby continuing the endof the levers slightly beyond the vertical plane of the ratchet-wheels, as shown in the enlarged detail in Fig. 7. When the pawls are thrown back out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheels, they may be held in a locked position by simply tightening up the thumb-nuts shown in Fig. 8.

The operation of my table is as follows: Suppose a large sheet or table-cloth, such as T, is about to be ironed. The clamping-strip e of the rollerE is first removed and one end of the sheet or table-cloth is inserted in the groove c, and thereupon the clamping-strip e is replaced, whereby the end of the sheet or table-cloth is caught. The operator then, with his foot on the treadle, causes the shaft G to rock, whereby through the connections between said shaft and the ratchet-wheel 6 the roller E is turned, while the operator with his hands guides and directs the cloth so that it winds up nicely upon said roller E. Then it is nearly wound up and the last portion of it is lying upon the table B, he irons said portion, and then brings down the free edge and secures it in the roller D by means of its clamping-strip. He then throws the pawlZ out of engagement with the ratchet e and holds said pawl out by tightening up the thumb-nut Z. Now with his foot he again rocks the shaft, so that through the connections with the ratchet-wheel d the roller D is turned and the cloth is wound up on said roller, while the roller E pays it out freely. A fresh portion of the cloth is thus presented on the ironing-board B and the ironing proceeds, and when this portion is ironed he again rocks the shaft, so as to-wind it up on the roller D, and so on until the entire cloth is ironed. Now to iron the other side of the cloth he throws the pawl n out of the ratchetwheel (1 and he removes the roller D, with the cloth still on it, and also removes the roller E, and he places the roller D behind and places the roller E in front, and thus winds the cloth back on the roller E with said other side uppermost on the table.

In order to make the table readily portable, the frame ends A are hinged at a to the ironing-board B, so that they will fold. To effect the folding, the swinging braces to underneath the ironing-board are made detachable at one end in any well-known manner, and the bottom brace a is also made detachable by means of a hook d on its end passing into a socket in plate a, secured to the inner side of the frame end, as shown in Fig. 9. One end of this brace may simply fit into a hole in oneof the frame ends, while the other end of said brace may have the l1ook-and-socket connection described. To take out the brace, detach the hook a from its socket-plate a and then slip the other end out of its hole. The shaft G is made removable from its bearings by means of the top guards a thereof, and the cranks .g are readily removable from the links I and ill. lVhen these parts are all disengaged and the rollers D and E are removed, the frame ends may be folded under the board and the whole device thus reduced to small compass.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. An ironingtable consisting of a frame, havinga suitable ironing-board at its top, a readily-removable and transferable roller at one side of the frame on which the article to be ironed is initially wound and from which it is paid out as the work proceeds, areadilyremovable and transferable roller on the opposite side upon which said article is wound as the ironing progresses, and pawls, ratchetwheels and a power device for operating the rollers.

2. An ironing-table consisting of a frame having a suitable ironing-board at its top, a roller on each side of said table adapted to pay out and to wind up the article being ironed, over the intervening board, and means for operating said rollers consisting of a rock-shaft with a treadle and suitablecom nections between said shaft and the rollers.

3. An ironing-table consisting of a frame having a suitable ironing-board at its top, a

roller on each side of said table adapted to pay out and to wind up the article being ironed, over the intervening board, and means for operating said rollers consisting of a rock-shaft with a treadle, and cranks, levers, links and pawls and ratchet-wheels by which the movement of the shaft is transmitted to the rollers.

4. In an ironing-table and-in combination with the board thereof, a roller at one side having a ratchet-wheel upon its end, arockshaft with a treadle and a crank, a pivoted lever, a link connecting the crank of the rock-shaft with said lever, a second lever, a link connecting the two levers, and a pawl carried by said second lever and engaging the ratchet-wheel of the roller.

5. In an ironing-table and in combination with the board thereof, a roller at one (side having a ratchet-wheel upon its end, a rockshaft with a treadle and a crank, a pivoted lever, a link connecting the crank of the rock-shaft with said lever, a second lever, a link connecting the two levers, a pawl carried by said second lever and engaging the ratchet-wheel of the roller, and means for holding said pawl out of engagement.

6. In an ironing-table and in combination with its board, a roller on one side thereof having a ratchet-wheel upon its end, a rockshaft with a treadle and a crank, a swinging lever having a pawl engaging the ratchetwheel of the roller, and a link connecting the crank with said lever.

7. An ironing-table consisting of a frame having a suitable ironing-board, rollers removably mounted in said frame, one on each side of the board, said rollers having means for clamping the end of the article to be ironed, and separable power transmitting connections to operate the rollers, the whole being arranged and adapted to permit the folding of the device into small compass.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES L. HOFWOLT.

Witnesses:

R. L. JOHNSTON, JOSEPH JOHNSTON. 

